Hello Everyone, Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ to you,
We are in week two of our thirteen week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Last week I indicated that I would focus on what the Gospel of Mark can tell us about being “missional” people and churches. “Missional” means not being inwardly focused or overly concerned with our own wellbeing but being a church and a people who love others outside the walls of our church. “Missional” is about what we do to serve the people in our communities. “Missional” is also about connecting the people we serve to Jesus Christ. “Missional” is “mission” with “evangelism”. Our reading in Mark 2 has these two notions of being “missional”. More on that in a moment.
Please take a look at this video: “Evangelism in the 21st Century”.
Kimberly Reisman uses a metaphor of “embrace” for evangelism: opening arms, waiting, closing arms, and opening them again. A related metaphor might be the handshake: hand out, wait, close hand (maybe throwing the other hand on top), and opening hands.
Our focus scripture this week is Mark 2:1-28. Chapter 2 opens with Jesus’ fourth healing/cleansing. In chapter 1 we read about the man possessed by a demon, Simon’ mother-in-law’s fever, and a man with leprosy. This story is famous because four friends dig through a roof to lower their paralyzed buddy down to Jesus. When Jesus saw their (the friends) faith he forgave the paralyzed man’s sins. The local scribes were indignant because “only God can forgive” whereupon Jesus told the man to get up, which he did.
Jesus then goes to the lake, sees a tax collector named Levi, and calls him to “Follow Me.” Levi then throws a party for Jesus attended by other tax collectors and “sinners”. Again, the scribes are outraged for a man of faith does not associate with “those” people. Jesus told them that healthy people don’t need a doctor but sick people do, saying, “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
The scribes and Pharisees begin to step up their challenge to Jesus’ authority. They want to know why the disciples don’t fast as the Pharisees and the followers of John the Baptist do. Jesus said that they need to party with the bridegroom while the bridegroom was still there. They then challenge Jesus on interpreting the Sabbath, because the disciples plucked grain and ate it on a Sabbath. Jesus’ reply was that Sabbath was given for humans and not the other way around.
The two missional moments? It happens when Jesus heals the paralyzed man and when he tells Levi to “Follow me” which leads to the party. Our we willing to help others in their need where they are and are we willing to have a relationship with “sinners” and their friends at their place?
Questions to ponder:
1. Can sins lead to paralysis? Can forgiving sins heal paralysis?
2. Are you willing to be seen eating and cavorting with “sinners”? (Remember, when you talk to me you are talking to a sinner.)
3. What do you think about when you hear the phrase “Son of Man”?
4. Who is Jesus’ most potent adversary, demons, disease, and paralysis or humanity?
The Lectionary Readings for this week are:
1 Samuel 3:1-20 – The boy Samuel is living with the priest Eli. God calls Samuel but Samuel mistakes it for Eli. Eli then tells Samuel how to respond. When he does, God tells the boy about what will happen to Eli and Eli’s sons.
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 – A psalm about the inescapability of God, who knows us, surrounds us, and is wherever we are.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – This can be a disturbing passage. First, “all things are lawful”, as Paul seems to be quoting the Corinthians. However, not all things are beneficial. Paul then writes about fornication (sexual intercourse outside of marriage) and tell the Corinthians to “stop it”. It seems that some in the Corinthian church were being sexually promiscuous because they thought all things were lawful. Paul says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should glorify God with our bodies.
John 1:43-51 – After Andrew and Simon follow Jesus, Jesus calls Philip to follow. Philip in turn finds Nathanael and asks him to check out Jesus.
May your week be blest by the presence of “tax collectors and sinners” as you serve God by serving others.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Readings for Sunday, January 11, 2014
Hello Everyone,
Grace and Peace to you from Jesus Christ,
As I announced at the end of last week, we are embarking on an immersion into the Gospel of Mark. This journey is entitled “The Beginning of the Good News.” We will be reading the entire Gospel, sixteen (16) chapters in thirteen (13) weeks. This means we will be reading one to one-and-a-half chapters each week. The first six weeks will be the first six chapters. On weeks seven through twelve we will read one-and-a-half chapters (or a little more). Then on the last week we will read Mark 16:1-8 (perhaps the original ending of Mark) along with the shorter ending of Mark (unnumbered) and the longer ending, verses 9 to 20.
The traditional designations for certain Sundays may be irrelevant to our readings. This Sunday is “Baptism of the Lord Sunday” and it happens that Mark 1 contains the baptism of Jesus. February 15 is designated at “Transfiguration Sunday” but we will not read about the transfiguration until two week later, on March 1. “Palm Sunday” is scheduled for March 29 but we will be reading about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem two weeks earlier, on March 15. Finally, Easter is scheduled for April 5 and that is the day we will be reading about the empty tomb in Mark 16. Confused yet?
Through these thirteen weeks I will continue to email the Revised Common Lectionary readings for each week and I encourage you to read the appointed lessons along with our selection from the Gospel of Mark.
Our Reading for this week:
Mark 1 – “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (BTW, in Greek “gospel” means “good news”.) And so begins the Gospel of Mark. Mark then quotes Isaiah and introduces us to John the Baptist who called the people to repentance. With three verses we read about Jesus’ baptism and with two verses we read about his temptation. John gets arrested and Jesus starts his ministry in Galilee.
When traveling and preaching by the Sea of Galilee (it’s really just a lake, Lake Gennesaret) Jesus calls his first four disciples Simon, Andrew, James, and John. We then read about the healing of a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue in Capernaum and the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law that same day. Word gets around about this amazing healer and many of the town’s people bring their relatives for Jesus to heal. Early the next morning Jesus goes off to pray and be refreshed. When S, A, J, and J find him so that he could heal more people Jesus declares his intent to go to all the towns and villages with his message.
We then read about a leper that is healed. My translation, the New Revised Standard Version, says that Jesus is moved with “pity” when the leper comes to him. It also contains a note about that word “pity” saying that other ancient writings have “anger”. This is what I love about the Gospel of Mark, it is raw in depicting the emotions of Jesus. Why would Jesus be angry? He can’t be angry with a disease, can he? Perhaps he is angry with the way society has treated the man who has to beg for food and clothing yet cannot approach anyone because of his disfiguring disease. Anyway, Jesus heals the man and instructs him to tell no one, but the man cannot contain his joy and shouts the news to everyone.
Three lessons to think about. First, do we, like Jesus, take some time to pray and be refreshed? Second, the message cannot be contained in one town, one church, or one gathering. It must be taken to other people, other towns, other places. Third, how can we not tell others about what Jesus has done for us? We should be like the healed leper who tells everyone!
Lectionary Readings:
Genesis 1:1-5 – “In the beginning when God created . . . .” God saw that the light was good.
Psalm 29 – Ascribe glory to the Lord for his voice is over the waters, powerful, full of majesty, breaks cedars, flashes like flames, shakes the wilderness, causes oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare.
Acts 19:1-7 – Paul finds some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus. He asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit but they had only been baptized for repentance. Paul instructs them about the Holy Spirit and lays his hands on them so they could receive it.
Mark 1:4-11 – John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. Coming out of the water Jesus sees the “heavens torn apart”, the Spirit descends upon him “like a dove”, and the voice from heaven declares Jesus to be “my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased”. Again, I love the dramatic nature of Mark when Jesus sees the “heavens torn apart”. Compare that with Matthew 3:16 “suddenly the heavens were opened to him” and Luke 3:21 “and he was praying, the heaven was opened.”
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Grace and Peace to you from Jesus Christ,
As I announced at the end of last week, we are embarking on an immersion into the Gospel of Mark. This journey is entitled “The Beginning of the Good News.” We will be reading the entire Gospel, sixteen (16) chapters in thirteen (13) weeks. This means we will be reading one to one-and-a-half chapters each week. The first six weeks will be the first six chapters. On weeks seven through twelve we will read one-and-a-half chapters (or a little more). Then on the last week we will read Mark 16:1-8 (perhaps the original ending of Mark) along with the shorter ending of Mark (unnumbered) and the longer ending, verses 9 to 20.
The traditional designations for certain Sundays may be irrelevant to our readings. This Sunday is “Baptism of the Lord Sunday” and it happens that Mark 1 contains the baptism of Jesus. February 15 is designated at “Transfiguration Sunday” but we will not read about the transfiguration until two week later, on March 1. “Palm Sunday” is scheduled for March 29 but we will be reading about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem two weeks earlier, on March 15. Finally, Easter is scheduled for April 5 and that is the day we will be reading about the empty tomb in Mark 16. Confused yet?
Through these thirteen weeks I will continue to email the Revised Common Lectionary readings for each week and I encourage you to read the appointed lessons along with our selection from the Gospel of Mark.
Our Reading for this week:
Mark 1 – “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (BTW, in Greek “gospel” means “good news”.) And so begins the Gospel of Mark. Mark then quotes Isaiah and introduces us to John the Baptist who called the people to repentance. With three verses we read about Jesus’ baptism and with two verses we read about his temptation. John gets arrested and Jesus starts his ministry in Galilee.
When traveling and preaching by the Sea of Galilee (it’s really just a lake, Lake Gennesaret) Jesus calls his first four disciples Simon, Andrew, James, and John. We then read about the healing of a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue in Capernaum and the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law that same day. Word gets around about this amazing healer and many of the town’s people bring their relatives for Jesus to heal. Early the next morning Jesus goes off to pray and be refreshed. When S, A, J, and J find him so that he could heal more people Jesus declares his intent to go to all the towns and villages with his message.
We then read about a leper that is healed. My translation, the New Revised Standard Version, says that Jesus is moved with “pity” when the leper comes to him. It also contains a note about that word “pity” saying that other ancient writings have “anger”. This is what I love about the Gospel of Mark, it is raw in depicting the emotions of Jesus. Why would Jesus be angry? He can’t be angry with a disease, can he? Perhaps he is angry with the way society has treated the man who has to beg for food and clothing yet cannot approach anyone because of his disfiguring disease. Anyway, Jesus heals the man and instructs him to tell no one, but the man cannot contain his joy and shouts the news to everyone.
Three lessons to think about. First, do we, like Jesus, take some time to pray and be refreshed? Second, the message cannot be contained in one town, one church, or one gathering. It must be taken to other people, other towns, other places. Third, how can we not tell others about what Jesus has done for us? We should be like the healed leper who tells everyone!
Lectionary Readings:
Genesis 1:1-5 – “In the beginning when God created . . . .” God saw that the light was good.
Psalm 29 – Ascribe glory to the Lord for his voice is over the waters, powerful, full of majesty, breaks cedars, flashes like flames, shakes the wilderness, causes oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare.
Acts 19:1-7 – Paul finds some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus. He asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit but they had only been baptized for repentance. Paul instructs them about the Holy Spirit and lays his hands on them so they could receive it.
Mark 1:4-11 – John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. Coming out of the water Jesus sees the “heavens torn apart”, the Spirit descends upon him “like a dove”, and the voice from heaven declares Jesus to be “my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased”. Again, I love the dramatic nature of Mark when Jesus sees the “heavens torn apart”. Compare that with Matthew 3:16 “suddenly the heavens were opened to him” and Luke 3:21 “and he was praying, the heaven was opened.”
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Friday, January 2, 2015
Mark, the Beginning of the Good News!
Hello Everyone,
I have been thinking about this new sermon series for the last 6 weeks or so. My favorite Gospel in the Christian Testament is the Gospel of Mark. I like it because it is short, fast paced, earthy, and to the point. This is, in the opinion of many scholars, though maybe not all, is the first of the four Gospels to be written. Much of Mark has been incorporated into Matthew and Luke.
And speaking of the shortness of Mark, I challenge all of us to read the entire Gospel, sixteen chapters in all, sometime in this coming week. Also, when you get to Chapter 16, notice the footnote at verse 8 and the “Shorter Ending of Mark” and the “Longer Ending of Mark”.
The sermon series that I will be embarking on beginning Sunday, January 11, will encompass the entire Gospel in 13 weeks. We begin at chapter 1 with Jesus’ baptism and end on Easter Sunday, April 5, with Chapter 16 and his resurrection. In between, we will follow Jesus from his ministry in Galilee to his death on the cross. Yes, we will be covering large chunks of Mark, at minimum one full chapter a week, but we will hear the Good News!
By the way, the title of the sermon series “The Beginning of the Good News” are the opening words of the Gospel According to Mark. Come journey with me and bring a friend with you.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
I have been thinking about this new sermon series for the last 6 weeks or so. My favorite Gospel in the Christian Testament is the Gospel of Mark. I like it because it is short, fast paced, earthy, and to the point. This is, in the opinion of many scholars, though maybe not all, is the first of the four Gospels to be written. Much of Mark has been incorporated into Matthew and Luke.
And speaking of the shortness of Mark, I challenge all of us to read the entire Gospel, sixteen chapters in all, sometime in this coming week. Also, when you get to Chapter 16, notice the footnote at verse 8 and the “Shorter Ending of Mark” and the “Longer Ending of Mark”.
The sermon series that I will be embarking on beginning Sunday, January 11, will encompass the entire Gospel in 13 weeks. We begin at chapter 1 with Jesus’ baptism and end on Easter Sunday, April 5, with Chapter 16 and his resurrection. In between, we will follow Jesus from his ministry in Galilee to his death on the cross. Yes, we will be covering large chunks of Mark, at minimum one full chapter a week, but we will hear the Good News!
By the way, the title of the sermon series “The Beginning of the Good News” are the opening words of the Gospel According to Mark. Come journey with me and bring a friend with you.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
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